I know psyche can mean wind, air, or spirit, but I was surprised to learn that it can mean butterfly and/or moth.

From what I've learned, Aristotle first used the word to refer to some insect, and it came to mean that in Greek, but sources seem divided on whether it meant butterfly, or "night butterfly" (i.e. moth.)

Does anyone know?

Also, I understand that the butterfly was used as a symbol of resurrection and rebirth in Christian art and iconography, but I've never seen any examples.

Does anyone know if they depicted what we would call butterflies, or "night butterflies" (i.e. moths)?

Mike Burke wrote:I know psyche can mean wind, air, or spirit, but I was surprised to learn that it can mean butterfly and/or moth.

I thought that it is "πνευμα" that means "wind", "breath" or "spirit". "ψυχη" means "soul (self / being)", and hence can be used to refer to:(1) ourselves ("ου βδελυξεται η ψυχη μου υμας" = "my soul will not be disgusted with you" in LXX Lev 26:11)(2) persons ("η ψυχη η αμαρτανουσα αποθανειται" = "the soul that sins will die" in Ezek 18:20)(3) beings in general ("ψυχην ζωσαν" = "living soul" in LXX Gen 2:19)But I'm also surprised to see that it was used to refer to butterflies or moths.

Mike Burke wrote:Also, I understand that the butterfly was used as a symbol of resurrection and rebirth in Christian art and iconography, but I've never seen any examples.

LSJ reads "butterfly or moth" rather than "something like a butterfly or moth" so I guess you can take that as you'd like.

Since one of the three references (Arist.HA551a14, Thphr.HP2.4.4, Plu. 2.636c) is in Aristotle's Historia Animalium, I'm kind of assuming it's an actual insect. But if you can track down the texts, I'd appreciate getting more information.